Collapsible form for building culverts.



C. A. BESSER. GOLLAPSIBLE FORM FOR BUILDING UULVBRTS. APPLICATION FILED11116.17, 1911. 1,055,862, Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17l 1911.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CHARLES A. BESSER, 0E Moo-NT'ELEASANT, IOWA.

i COLLAPSIBLE FORM FOR 'BUILDING CULVERTS.

' speeictiou of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1913.

Application tiled August 17, 1911. Serial No. 644,617.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known, that I, CHARLES A. BESSER, a citizen of the United States,residing at. Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Collapsible Form for Building Culverts,ofywhich the following is a specification.

Thisvinvention has reference to improvements in collapsible forms orcores for use in constructing concrete or other culverts for sewers,drains, and the-like, and its object is to` provide aform for such`purpose which may be expanded or collapsed to vary its size and torelease it from the walls of the culvert after the concrete has set,the' movement of the parts of the mold being all controllablesimultaneously by a single operating means. Moreover, the structure oflthe present invention is such'that the form may be readily transportedfrom `place to place or withdrawn from the finished culvert, for whichpurpose the form is provided with rollersupports which-may be moved intoand lout of active position irrespective of the movement of the walls ofthe form under the action of the adjusting means.

The present invention is an improvement upon Patent No.,952,869, grantedto me on YMarch 22, 1910, 'for a collapsible form for building culverts,but the construction shown in'the said patent was such as to limit itsuse to the building ofcylindrical culverts or the like, while thepresentinvention is designed for the building of culverts havingparallel basic walls and an arched crown.

The invention `will be best understood .v from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specifcatiomwith the understanding,however, that while the drawings illustrate a practical embodiment ofthe invention it is susceptible of other practical embodiments and,therefore, the invention is not confined to any exactconformity with theshowing ofthe drawings, but the structure may be 'changed and modifiedso long as the salient features of the invention are retained.

In the drawings Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section ofthe form with some parts in elevation, with the structure in positionfor transportation trom place to place. Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe culvert as shown in Fig. l and as viewed from the right hand end ofthe structure as `shown in Fig, 1 with the manipulating shaft in crosssection. F.ig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 with thesupporting rollers raised. Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, of thelower end of the formas shown in Fig. 1, but with the roller supports inthe inactive position. Fig. 5'is a perspective view of one of the planeform sections designed to carry the roller supports.

A Referring to the drawings, there is shown a form made up of a sheetmetal plate 1 and pairs of plates 2, 3, 4, respectively, butv theparticular number of plates employed will vary in accordance with thesize of the form and the conditions to be met, the number of platesshownin the drawings answering for some purposes.

The plate l constitutes the crown plate, and like the similar plate inthe aforesaid patent has anormal tendency to assume a curvaturedescribed on a comparatively small radius. This plate is provided with acentrallongitudinal angular flanged strip 5,

one flange of which is approximately radial to the axis of generation ofthe plate and the plate will yield to a properly applied force to causeit to define the segment of a cylin' der of greaterdiameter than thevnormal position of the plate. The plates 2 are, also, curved plateshaving a normal tendency to to assume a curvature of comparatively shortradius, and these plates may likewise be bent by a properly appliedforceto define segments of a circle or of a cylinder of larger diameterthan their normal posit-ion. Each plate 2 has secured thereto along oneedge an angular strip 6 with one flange of the strip substantially7flush with the edge of the plate and directed toward the axis ofcurvature of the plate. The plates 2 are of less circumferentialextent'than the plate l in the particular arrangement shown.

The plates 3 are plane and of appropriate width, being of the samelength as plates l and 2 and all the plates as welL as the plates 4;which are also plane, are. equal in length to the 'Pength of the formand the plates 4 in the particular structure shown are indicated as ot'less width than the plates 3, although this particular arrangement isnot manda tory. The plates 3 have each along one edge an angular strip 7having one flange at substantially right. angles to the plane of theplate 3.

The plate 4 has alongr the longr edges augular strips S, 9,respectively, and each sl rip s and Si has one tiange projecting tromthe corresponding face of-lhe plate at. substam of the flanges againstthelface of the plate 4 carrying the strips 8 and 9 and with the angleof the strip outset from the plate to a point about flush with the outeredges of the outstanding flanges of .the strips ,8 and 9 Secured totheflanged strips 5., 6 and 7 arepairs of links 11, 12 and ,13,respectively,

there'being coactive pairs of links'ln spaced relation one to theotherand located near the respective ends of the angular strips carryinthem, andv these ',pairs of links at e'achen of the formare 'arranged incrossing .rela tion, one Alink `of each air being intermediate of thetwo links JF-the mating pair. l

At approximately the axis ofthecurved portion of the form or core thereis l'a'shaft 14 made 'up-of parts' connected together by a coupling 15,and each -part of the shaft has oppositely d iectedror right and lefthand screw 'threads 16, 17, respectively. Mounted on the threadedlportion 16 of each memberof thelshaft is ablock '18 appropriately'threadedfor j the passage of L the shaft and on the threaded portion1'? oeach member of the shaft there is another block 19 like the block18, and each block is rovided with radially disposed outstan ing ears2t) approprately'spaced to receive each a pairof links 11, 12 or 13,respectively,u

the ears -20 being'disposed about the re'- spective blocks 18 and 19 insubstantially equisdistant relation one to the other.

Each block 18 and 19 is provided with othervears-21 like vtheears 20 andto each ear 21 of the block 18 there are pvoted' two links 22, 23,respectively, while similar links 24, 25, respectively, are pivoted eachat one end to 'the corresponding ears 21 of the block 19. The` links 22and 24 are shorter than the links.23 and 25 'and are pivotally connectedto the strips 8 of the plate 4 at the ends remote from the 'blocks 18and 19. The

links 23 and 25 are 'pivotally connected to the strips 9 of .the p ate 4at the ends remote from the blocks 18 and 19, the ends ofV the links 22to 25 wherejconnected to the strips 8 and 9-being appropriately bent forthe purposem The links 22 and .24extend op sitely with relation one tothe other an the same is true of the links 23nnd 25, so that these linkscross at an intermediate point. One end of the shaft 14 carries amanipulating hand wheel 26 or any other suitable manipulating means,whereby the shaft may be rotated, and such'rotation of the shaft willcause the blocks 18 and 19 at each end of the shaft to approach orrecede one with relation to the other in accordance with the directionof turning of .the shaft. When the blocks are caused to approach onetoward the other, the correthe other, the distance of the outer ends of'the links from the shaft is thus varied and the plates 1, 2, 3,and`"participate in.sucli movement, wherefore the distance'of 'theseplates from the shaft -is also varied.

In the structure shown the pair of plates 2 's interior to the crownplate 1, the pair of1 plates 3 'isinterior to the pair of plates 2, andthe pair of plates 4 is interior to the pair of .plates 3, so that eachinner pair of plates tends to force the next outer pair of platesoutwardly `with relation to the shaft. The edges ,of the plate 1 overlapthose edges ofthe plate 2 which are connected to .the

links 12, the'edges-of the plates 2 overlap "ferent lengths of the linksconnecting them witl'the blocks 18 and 19. Thelinks 13 are soproportioned to the links carrying the.

plates 4 that the plates 3. moved by the linksI 13 at one edge have theedge engaged by the plates' 4 moving to substantially the same extent asthe lates are moved by the links 13, .so that t e plates 3 have theirouter faces maintained in substantially parallelismv at all times. -Thelinks 12 move in a different radial plane from the links 13,-and whilevthe edges of the plates 2 actuated by the links 12 move in one radialdirection the other edges of the plates 2 are moved in accordance withthe movement of the plates 3` with the result that the plates 2 duringthe expanding movement of the form have their curvature lessened orflattened against the normal tendency of these plates. The links 11 movethe plate 1 in a radial plane bodily, but do not all'ect the lon edgesof the plate 1, which edges are contro led solely by the plates 2 inopposition to the ynormal tendency of the plate 1, so that during theexpanding movement Aof the core 0r form the plate 1 is flattened to acommensurate y extent.

During the collapsing movement of the structure the plates 1 and 2 curlunder their normal tendency toward the initial curvature and the plates2 by their elasticity tend to move the plates 3 and through them theplates 4 toward a diametric longitudinal plane substantially coincidentwith the links 11 and tlieaxis of the shaft 14. Because of thisconstruction the form or core retains a substantially inverted U-shapewithin therange of its movement from the collapsed `pos1tion to thefully extended position with the legs of the U approximately parallelone with the other at all times.

Each angular strip 8 has tast thereto at appropriate points blocks 27,and at one end a block 28 like the blocks 27. The blocks 27 and 28 aresubstantially flush wit-h the outer edge of the respective angular stripEach block 27 has pivoted thereto one end of a link 29 in such mannerthat the link 29 in the ordinary posit-ion of the structure is pendentwith relation to the block Q8. In the particular construction shown inthe drawings there are three such links, one about midway of the lengthof the form and one near each end thereof, but it will be understoodthat long forms will require more links and short forms may require buttwo links. Each link carries at the end remote from its pivot support aroller 30, the link being provided with a bracket 31 co-acting with thebody of the link to support the pivot pin 32 for the roller. whichlatter is introduced in the space between the bracket 31 and thecorresponding face of the link7 the bracket being sutliciently offsetfrom the link for the purpose.

The several links are connected together' a bar 33 lioined to the linksby pivot pins by 34, so that the links may be rocked on their pivotsupports on the blocks 27 in either direction simultaneously. One end otthe bar 33 is extended close to the corresponding end of the form and isprovided with notches 35. The end of the link 33 carrying the notches ispivotally connected to a manipulating lever 36 in turn pivotallysupported by the block 28 in substantially pendent relation thereto, andthe lever 36 is formed whereby the lever may be rocked about its pivotsupport in the block .28 to cause a longitudinal movement of the bar 33and the movement of the lever 36 is the same as the movement ot thelinks 29. so that there is no binding of th'e parts. The lever 36between the point of connection thereto of the bar 33 and the pivotsupport of the lever, carries a latch member 38 having a tooth 39adapted to the notches 35, there heilig two such notches properly spacedfor a purpose which will presently appear. The latch 38 is provided witha manipulating hand piece 40 whereby the latch may be moved at the willof an operator By a suitable manipulation ot the lever 3i', the links 29maybe simultaneously rocked in a direction to carry the rollers 30 abovethe plane of the bottom ot the form, so that the lower` edges of theplates t aud the corresponding flanges of the strips 9 may rest upon theground or other support on which the culvert is to be formed` theconcrete or other material being applied to the exterior of the form inthe usual manner` and the form is allowed to remain in place with amanipulating end 37 until the concrete has become sutliciently hardened.

When itis desirable to remove the form from the culvert the hand wheel2G is manipulated to turn the screw shaft in the proper directiolivocollapse the form sutliciently to move its walls out ot engagement withthe wall ot' the culvert. New the latch 38 which while the culvert wasbeing formed engaged in one ot' the notches 35 to hold the rollers 3G intheir upper position, is released from engagement with the bar 33 andthe lever 36 is then manipulated in a direction to move the linksl 29 toa substantially upright position in which case the rollers 30 project ashort distance below the plane of the lower edge of the form and thelatter is lifted to a commensurate extent7 so that its lower edge isfree from the ground or other support. and when the parts are in thisposition the latch levgr 38 will be engaged by the tooth or nose in theother one of the notches 35, thereby holding the rollers in the new oractive position, as indicated in Fig. l, when the form may be readilypulled out of the culvert to a new position or transported to -someother position of use` or to a position of storage as may be desired.

The roller supports are provided on each section 4 and in order toprevent the rollers 30 from coming in contact with the flanged strips 9.the tianged member 10 is provided, and this flanged strip 10 not onlyserves as a bearing for the links 29 but serves also to stitfen theplates 4 as it extends throughout the greater portion of the length ofthe respective plate `t.

What is claimed is:-

1. A molding form provided with ian arch portion composed of curvedplates and a base section composed of plane plates in coactive relationto the plates of the arch section, and actuating means connected to theseveral plates for simultaneously moving them to expand or contract theform, said actuating means being connected t-o the plane plates to movethem rectilinear-ly during the expansive and contractile movements ofthe form with respect to a plane intermediate of and parallel with theplane plates and radial to the longitudinal axis of the arch portion.

2. A mold form comprising curved plates and plane plates associated toform a substantially U-shaped mold or core, and means for expanding orcontracting the mold form comprisin link members connected to respeetivep ates of the form. and means for moving all the link memberssimultaneously in a direction to expand or contract the t'orm, the link'members connected to the plane plates being positioned with referencethereto to impart rectilinear movement to said plane plates in adirection substimtially sie perpendicular to a plane radial to thelongitudinal axis of the curved portion of the mold.

3. A mold form having an arch section comprising curved plates eachhaving a normal tendency toward increased curvature ind each plate beinginterior to the next plate toward the crown of the arch, plane platesinterior to the margins of the curved plates of the arch section andconstituting the basic portion of the mold Iorm, and a common actuatingmeans for all the plates connected thereto for moving themsimultaneously to increase or decrease the size of the arch sectiondiametrically and to impart rectilinear movement to the plane plates ofthe basic section toward and from a median plane radial to thelongitudinal axis of the arch section.

4. A form or core for molding comprising an arch section composed ofcurved plates and a basic section composed of plane plates, each plateoverlapping the next succeeding plate in order from the crown of thearch toward the base, and means for sustaining and moving the plates toexpand and contract the form comprising a screw shaft having oppositelydirected threads thereon, blocks ou the shaft actuated by the threadedportions thereof to move in opposite directions, links extending fromeach block to the several plates, the links from a block movable in onedirection crossing those from the block movable in the oppositedirection, and links extending from the blocks to opposite edges of theterminal plate of the basic portion of the form.

5. A mold or form having an arch portion and a basic portion together'constituting a mold of substantially U shape in cross' section, rollerscarried by the basic portion of the form interior thereto with pivotedlinks connecting the rollers to the basic portion of the form,`and amanipulating means for the rollers common to all the rollers on arespective side of the basic portion of the mold form for moving therollers into and out of projecting position with relation to the planeof the bottom of the basic portion of the form.

6. In a mold form, a basic portion provided with mold plates on oppositesides of the median line of the form, each plate having a series ofspaced links each pivoted at one end to the plate near the upper edgethereof when the mold is in position, a roller at the lower end of eachlink, a bar connecting the several links, and means for locking the barand the links with the rollers thereon in position where the rollersproject beyond the plane of the bottom of the mold and Where the rollersare above said plane.

7. In a mold form, a basic member having oppositely disposed terminalmold plates each having along each long edge an angle strip sec edthereto and at an intermediate point an angle strip extendinglongitudinally of the plate with the angle-directed away from the platein the same direction as the angle strips, a series of links in spacedrelation one to the other and each pivoted at one end to the edge of theplate which is.. uppermost in operation and provided with a roller atthe end remote from the pivoted end, a bar connecting the severalrollers carried by a respective plate, a manipulating lever to which oneend of the bar is connected, ano a latch member carried by themanipulating lever and provided with a tooth, the connecting bar beingvprovided with spaced notches for the reception of the tooth of the latchlever.

8. A mold form provided with an arch portion composed of curved platesmovable in radial paths with respect to a common center, a. base portioncomposed of plates movable in rectilinear pat-hs, with respect to anintermediate plane radial to the longitudinal axis of the arch portion,actuating means connected to the several plates for simultaneouslymoving them to expand o1' contract the form by radial movements of thecurved plates and said rectilinear movements of the base plates, andsupporting means for the form comprising rollers carried by, linksmounted on' the base plates and provided with common operating means foreach side of the form.

9. A molding form provided with an arch portion composed of curvedplates, and a base portion composed of plane plates in coactive relationto the plates of the arch portion, actuating means connected t-o theseveral plates for simultaneously moving them to expand and contract theform, the actuating means being connected to the plane plates to movethem rectlinearly with respect to a plane intermediate of and parallelwith the plane plates and radial to the longitudinal axis of the archportion and to the curved plates to move them radially with respect to acommon center, support-ing rollers carried by the plane plates andmovable into and out of supporting position with respect to the planeplates, and actuating means for the rollers, the actuating, means forthe plates and the actuating means for the rollers being extended to andboth accessible at one end of the form. f

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. CHARLES A. BESSER.

lVitnesses:

GEO. T. KULER, J. W. BURNoP.

Copies ot this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner o! Patenti,

Washington, D. C.

